The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-07-01
more ABOUT IDAHO.
LETTER II

Mr.. EDITOR:
In my last, [ romised to furnish
this letter IN two weeks, but press
of business prevented my doin g so.
I trust however is is not too late. /
believe I closed my last upon our
rivers and lakes, and will b gin
this upon
AGRICULTURE AND FRUITS.
1t is estimated that about one
third of the population of Idaho is
engaged in the pursuit of farming
and stock raising.
Notwithstanding the increase in
our population, the products of our
soil are amply sufficient to sup DlY
the wants of our people. Owing
to the high price of labor here, as
Isl in all mining countries of the
world, our farmers are not able to
compete successfully in foreign mar
kets with those of more favorable
localities.
The crops generally raised are
wheat, oats, barley, fax seed, corn,
and all kinds of vegetables are
grown 10 the greatest PERFECTION.
Idaho cannot be excelled by any re-
gion east of California for the produc-
ton of fruit, Apples, peaches,
pears, nectarines, apricots, plums,
prunes, grasps, and all the small
fruits are produced in the greatest
abundance and OF a quality uIsur-
passed.
The dry desert looking sagebush
lands are in few years by artificial
irrigation turned into the finest
farms with much less trouble after
the water is obtained thar attend
similar transformation in the States
east of the Rocky Mountains.
What the farmers, miners, fruit
raisers, and stock-growers of Idaho
require more than anything else, is
cheap transportation far their pro-
ducts and competing lines of railroad
with a fair, equal and equitable sys
tenn of rates and fares which would
make the expense OF importation
and expectation on the same articles
uniform, and give our people, rich
and poor, the same rates without
unjust dis elimination or favor1tism.
MINES AND MINING.
The mineral resources of Idaho
constitute, if not its chief, one Of its
greatest interests, and the develop
ments of the past year have proven
beyond a question the richness and
extent Of our mines. In the great
Wood River mineral belt the mines
have improved as greater depth
has been reached, and the same
cheering news comes from every
portion of the Territory.
It is now established beyond
| doubt that IdanO will at once take
her place as one Of the great gold
and silver producing districts of the
world. In Mr.. w. F. WiId's report
in charge of the United States
Assay ORee at Balsi City.
lie says: THAT Idaho produced
tor the year ending December 31st
1886, So, 1855, 6O2,"
INDIANS AND RESERVATIONS.
We have fine reservations within
the Territory with population OF
4,800 souls, and occupying territory
amounting 1881, ISL acres of land.
AT the time of setting apart the
reservations the land lying between
them and the mountains on the east
was virtually uninhabited by the
whites, 50 that while nominally the
resel vations comprised Of so many
acres, vet in reality the entire east
ern part of the Territory was utilized
by them for hunting grounds. In
the opening and development OF the
mines along the toot hill of the
range, the white population has
filled to large extent that portion
of the country, so that now, with
his hunting grounds destroyed, with
the whites pressing IN yearly more
closely to the reservation limits on
all sides, the problem of subsistence
stares the Indian in the face, and he
begins to recognize the force OF the
"work or starve" proposition which
his white brother has for centuries
accepted. At present there Is "a
small relative number in each trib-'
who, seeing the tendency of AFFAIR.",
have learned to farm on a small
scale, send their children TO tie
reservation schools, live in houses,
and generally conform to the habits
and customs Of the whites.
But the wild instincts of their race
are still predominant in the majority
and the process of civilization is